VALVE ASSEMBLY

Abstract: Improved valve presenting a threaded end (12), intended to the positioning of the valve core which provides for the opening or closing of the air passage. On the threaded end is mounted a device having means for closing the mouth of the valve and for actuating the core, said device including a main single body (52) or a main body (2) and an external body (3) which may be coupled to each other, a stem (4) and a spring (5); the device defines a mouth (31) which has preferably a truncated shape, as well as various peripheral external ribs (32); the stem has a cylindrical configuration and has at its rear end an axial orifice (41) and is ended at its front part by a head (42) which is preferably truncated so that the valve provides for the supply and discharge of air of a tyre while insuring an air-tight closing due to the action of an O-ring (6) mounted on the push-stem (11) of the valve core.

Description: The present invention relates to a valve assembly of the type suitable for use with tyres of vehicles and consisting of a valve and an end device. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Generally, the valves of tyres have an extractible cap which is externally fixed at the end of the same with the purpose of avoiding the entrance of dirt in the zone where the valve core, is placed, said cap presenting the drawback that every time it is desired to test the pressure of the tyres, it is necessary to take off the cap, thus getting hands dirty in addition to the risk of loss of the cap due to the complete separation of the same from the valve when extracted. Patent US-A-1 044 423 reveals an extension for the stem of an automobile tyre valve assembly, while the present invention refers to a complete valve assembly. Patent FR-A- 1 218 398 reveals a vehicle tyre valve cap, and this is obviously outside the scope of the present invention. Patent US-A- 1 865 231 reveals an improved tyre valve stem, while the present invention refers to a complete valve assembly. Patent US-A- 1 928 069 reveals an inflation valve for pneumetic tyres; the configuration and components ofthis valve, as shown in the figures and as described, have no commom features with the valve assembly of the present invention. In many vehicles these valves are placed in cavities situated in hubcaps of tyres which results in making difficult the removal of the cap of the tyres or even more difficult connecting the air pressure supply mouthpiece on to them, such that in some vehicles it is indispensable to take off the hubcaps in order to have access to the corresponding valve. DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION In order to overcome these problems, the valve assembly of the invention as defined in independent claims 1 and 5 is herewith proposed. These assemblies have at an end thereof, a device with means for closing the passage of the air and for actuating of the valve core. This valve has the advantageous feature that once an end device is placed on the valve it will not be necessary to take off the same for testing the pressure of the tyre, thus avoiding, manual manipulation of elements as it occurs in the case of valves with extractible cap. The end device of the valve consists of a main body which is fixed on a threaded portion at an end of the valve presenting internally a stair-shaped cylindrical configuration wherein a rod is located which actuates with its head on an opening of the main body, due to the pushing effect of a spring mounted on the intermediate zone of the rod as well as on an interior platform of the main body respectively, in such a manner that the rod tends to maintain closed the mouth of the valve, and when it is axially displaced towards the rear zone of the valve, overcoming the pressure of the spring, pushes the rod of the valve core thus allowing the passage of air through the inside of the valve. The valve assembly of the invention, thus permits the end portion of the same to be always maintained in closed position, except when the mouthpiece of an air pressure supply is coupled thereto, which pressure forces the rod to be axially displaced towards the rear zone, the latter pushing a rod of the valve core thus performing the opening of the valve. The device which is fixed at an end of the valve may consist of two independent bodies which can be coupled to each other, having inside and in an intermediate zone, the rod and the spring which maintains the latter in a normally closed position, said device being fixed on to the valve by means of an interior threaded zone of the latter which receives a rear zone of the device also threaded externally, in conformity with the mentioned threaded zone of the valve. Alternatively, the device which is fixed at an end of the valve may consist of a single body which has inside a rod and the corresponding spring in order to maintain the rod in a normally closed position, said device being fixed on to the main valve by means of an exterior threaded zone of the latter which receives a rear zone of the device also threaded although internally in conformity with the mentioned threaded zone of the valve. The latter configuration permits also for obtaining an air-tight closure between the rod and the mouth of the device thus avoiding the leakage of air due to a special structure of the head of the rod which carries an elastic toric joint that in a closed situation, i.e. in the absence of air pressure supply, blocks the mouth of the device due to the pushing effect of the spring over the head of the rod and therefore over said mouth of the end device, Said alternative end device has a single main body which externally presents a poligonal edge for providing grip for a socket wrench and a number of peripheral ribs for the grip of the air pressure supply mouthpiece, and a pushing rod inside said main body of the device for pushing the rod of the valve core, said pushing rod having at the front zone a toric joint of adequate dimensions in order to act with its periphery on a trunco-conical portion presented inside the main body performing an air-tight closure; in case of leakage of air through the valve core, said toric joint will yield sufficiently as to permit the head of the rod to project out through the mouth of the device, thus indicating a defective closure of the valve core; additionally inside said main body a rod guiding plate is located, preferably of rubber material which acts as a coupling joint between the device and the valve, and a spring which tends to displace the rod towards the mouth of the device, the toric joint mounted on the head of the rod acting against the trunco-conical portion defined inside the device, thus providing an air-tight closure. The rod of the end device of the object of this invention, defines at the rear zone thereof an axial orifice suitable for receiving inside the same the end of the valve core, such that the pushing rod of the end device by receiving pressure from the air supply mouthpiece, is displaced towards the rear zone giving rise to the opening of the device, and displacing in turn the valve core in order to perform the opening of the same, thus permiting the entrance and exit of air through the end device and the valve. DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS In order to better understand the object of the present invention two practival embodiments of the same are herewith represented through the accompanying drawings, in said drawings: Figure 1 shows an elevation view, and partially sectioned of the whole assembly of the valve with an end device taken off. Figure 2 shows an elevaton view and partially sectioned of the main body of the end device of figure 1. Figure 3 shows an elevation view and partially sectioned of the exterior body of the end device offigure 1. Figure 4 shows an elevation view of the rod of the end device partially sectioned. Figure 5 shows an elevation view of the valve and the end device according to a second embodiment being alined and the end device being sectioned by means of vertical plane. PRACTICAL EMBODIMENT As it may be observed in figures 1 to 4 the valve of the invention presents a body (1) of a substantially cylindrical shape suitable for being fixed on a tyre inside which a valve core is placed which tends to carry out the closing of the interior orifice of said body (1) the valve core presenting a rod (11) which by being axially displaced towards the rear zone of the body (1) performs the opening of the internal passage of the body (1) thus permiting the entrance and the exit of air through the body (1). The end of body (1) presents an internal threaded zone (12) which allows for the mounting of the valve core and that of an end device composed of a main body (2) over which an exterior body (3) is coupled and inside which a rod (4) and a spring (5) are located. The main body (2) of the end device presents at its rear zone a threaded portion (21) which permits that the same is mounted over the threaded zone (12) of body (1) and externally two undercuttings (22) in diametrically opposed position for permiting the positioning or taking off the body (2) by means of a plane wrench. The body (2) defines internally a cylindrical stair-shaped cavity and externally an undercutting (23) suitable for receiving a coupling joint (6) which assures that the union of the two bodies (1) and (2) is sealed. The exterior body (3) of the end device joined to the body (2) defines a mouth (31) of a preferably trunco-conical shape, and externally a number of peripheral ribs (32) being the means for the grip of an air pressure supply mouthpiece. Rod (4) located inside body (2) presents a cylindrical configuration which defines at a rear zone thereof an axial orifice (41) of adequate dimensions so as to receive inside the rod (11) of the valve core, said rod (4) having at the front zone thereof a head (42) of a trunco-conical shape, suitable for performing the closure of mouth (31) of body (3), said rod (4) tending to be maintained in the closing position due to the pressure received by a spring (5) mounted on the same rod (4) which acts through its ends on to the head (42) and on to the interior stair-shaped portion of body (2). According to a second embodiment of the invention, shown in figure 5, valve (51) defines a conventional configuration suitable for being fixed on to the tyre and presenting close to the mouth, on an external zone, a threaded portion (57) over which normally a conventional cap is placed; and inside the mouth of the valve (51) the rod of a valve core (58) can be observed which is in charge of performing the closure of the valve (51) when over said rod of valve core (58) no pressure is active. This valve incorporates an end device which defines a single main body (52) on the Periphery of which there is a poligonal edge (59) which permits body (52) to be gripped by means of a socket wrench and externally close to the mouth of the same various peripheral ribs (60) can be observed which permit the grip of an air supply mouthpiece not shown in the figure. The main body (52) of the end device presents at the interior and rear portion thereof a threaded portion (61) and close to its mouth a trunco-conical portion (62) which ends at a cylindrical mouth (63) of slight height. The interior threaded portion (61) of body (52) permits the device to be fixed on the external threaded portion (57) of valve (51). Inside the end device a pushing rod (53) is placed which has at its front end two cylindrical portions (64) and (65) with larger diameters than that of the rod, the upper cylindrical portion being of smaller diameter than that of the lower cylindrical portion, and between which a toric joint (54) is mounted with dimensions suitable for acting against the trunco-conical surface (62) of the main body (52) when the rod (53) tends to be displaced towards mouth (63) of body (52); the pushing rod (53) defines at its rear zone an axial orifice (66) suitable for receiving inside the rod (58) of the valve core. In the case where rod (58) of the valve core does not perform an appropriate closure, portion (65) of the rod would receive, apart from the pressure of the spring (56), an additional pressure caused by the pressure of the air which passes through the valve core, thus pressing the toric joint (54) over the trunco-conical surface (62), thus making portion (64) to project out through mouth (63) of the device which indicates a defective closure of the valve core. Inside the main body (52) of the end device there are a guiding plate (55) of rod (53) which is interlocked by pressure over the internal threaded portion (61) of body (52) and a spring (56) preferably helicoidal which acts with its ends over the guiding plate (55) and the portion (65) of rod (53) tending to displace the rod (53) towards mouth (63) of body (52), and consequently performing an air-tight closure caused by the action of the toric joint (54) against the trunco-conical surface (62) of the main body (52) of the end device. With this arrangement, having mounted the body (52) over valve (51) a closure is obtained which is performed by the valve core (58) and a second air-tight closure caused by the action of the toric joint (54) against the trunco-conical surface of the end device; when an air supply mouthpiece is fixed over the end device, the rod (53) is pushed by the former towards the rear zone, thus separating the toric joint (54) from the trunco-conical surface (62) and rod (53) in turn displaces the rod (58) of the valve core towards the rear zone performing the opening of the same, therefore permitting the entrance and exit of air through the valve and the end device mounted thereover. Having sufficiently described the nature of the present invention as well as one way for putting it into practice, it only remains to be added that it is possible to introduce changes of form material and disposition as long as said alterations do not vary substantially the characteristics of the invention which are claimed as follows:

Claims: Valve assembly, of the type suitable for use with tyres of vehicles and consisting of a valve and an end device, said valve having a valve body (1) of substantially cylindrical shape with a valve stem (11) located therein, one end of said body (1) having an internally threaded portion (12) for receiving said end device; said end device comprising a main body (2), an external body (3), a rod (4), a coil spring (5) and a coupling joint (6) wherein: said main body (2) has a front portion of a generally cylindrical shape, an externally threaded rear portion (21) of a smaller diameter adapted to be threaded to the internally threaded portion (12) of the valve, a rear recessed zone for receiving the coupling joint (6) surrounding a base portion of said externally threaded rear portion (21) at a position of closure of the end device over the valve body (1), an inside space defined by the inside wall of the front portion and a stair-shaped base for receiving said rod (4) and said spring (5) within said space; said rod (4) is axially displaceable within said inside space and a central orifice of said stair-shaped base for acting on said valve stem (11) and comprises a generally cylindrical body portion and a head portion (42) of larger diameter; said spring (5) is adapted for acting on the head portion (42) of said rod (4) and to rest, at a lower end thereof, on said stair-shaped base; and wherein said external body (3) is of a generally cylindrical shape with a diameter adapted so as to be threaded externally to the main body (2) thus forming a housing for the spring (5) and the rod (4), said external body (3) having a mouth (31) with a trunco-conical inner surface in conformity with a trunco-conical outer surface of the head portion (42) of the rod (4). Valve assembly, according to the previous claim, characterized in that the main body (2) of the end device presents at least two external planes diametrally opposed adapted to provide a grip for a tool. Valve assembly, according to claim 1, characterized in that the external body (3) of the end device has various external peripheral ribs adapted to provide a grip for an air pressure supply mouthpiece (31). Valve assembly, according to claim 1, characterized in that the rod (4) located inside the device defines a cylindrical shape which presents at its rear end an axial orifice suitable for receiving the rod (4) of the valve core. Valve assembly, of the type suitable for use with tyres of vehicles and consisting of a valve (51) and an end device, said valve (51) having a valve body of substantially cylindrical shape with a valve stem (58) located therein, one end of said valve body having an externally threaded portion (57) for receiving said end device; said end device comprising a main body (52), a rod (53), a coil spring (56), a toric joint (54) and a guiding plate (55) wherein; said main body (52) has an internally threaded rear portion (61) adapted to be threaded to the externally threaded portion (57) of the valve body and a front portion comprising a mouth having a lower portion (62) oftrunco-conical shape and an upper portion (63) of cylindrical shape; said rod (53) is axially displaceable within said main body (52) for acting on said valve stem (58) and comprises a generally cylindrical body portion and a head portion composed of an upper and a lower cylindrical portion, where the diameter of the upper cylindrical portion (64) is smaller than that of the lower cylindrical portion (65), both diameters being substantially larger that of the body portion of the rod (53) and the diameter of the upper cylindrical portion (64) is in conformity with the upper portion of said mouth (63) of the main body (52); said spring (56) is adapted for acting on the lower surface of said lower cylindrical portion (65) of the head portion of the rod (4); said toric joint (54) is placed on said lower cylindrical portion (65) of the head portion of the rod (4), surrounding the upper cylindrical portion (64), said joint (54) being of elastic material and having suitable dimensions so as to, in a rest position, provide closure on said trunco-conical lower portion (62) of said mouth of the main body (52) whilst the cylindrical upper portion (63) of said mouth remains substantially at level with respect to the upper surface of said upper cylindrical portion (64) of the rod (53), said joint (54) being adapted to yield space under a pressure higher than that exerted by the spring (56); and wherein said guiding plate (55) is located inside the main body (52) within a lower opening of the latter such that a peripherical zone of said plate (55) rests on an inside shoulder at the upper part of said lower opening, said plate (55) being adapted to guide the axial displacement of the rod (53) and to support the spring (56). Valve assembly, according to claim 5, characterized in that the end device presents externally a poligonal edge for the grip of a socket wrench and a number of peripheral ribs for the grip of the air supply mouth piece (31). Valve assembly, according to claim 5, characterized in that the guiding plate (55) of the rod is adapted to be introduced by pressure in the internal threaded zone of the end device (55). Valve assembly, according to claim 5, characterized in that the guiding plate (55) is preferably of rubber material. Valve assembly, according to claim 5, characterized in that the spring (56) is mounted between the guiding plate (55) and the head of the rod (53). Valve assembly, according to claim 5, characterized in that the pushing rod (53) presents at its rear end an axial orifice suitable for receiving therein the end of the valve core when the former is displaced backwards caused by the pushing effect of an air supply mouth piece (31).

Inventors: HEREDIA BATISTA ANTONIO, LOUREIRO BENIMELI FERMIN-JAIME, HEREDIA BATISTA, ANTONIO, LOUREIRO BENIMELI, FERMIN-JAIME
Applicants: FAST AIR SL, FAST AIR, S.L.
Application year: 1994
Main classification: F16K15
IPC codes: F16K15, B60C23, B60C29